DeWitt temple celebrates release of Israeli solider Gilad Shalit

Jim Commentucci / The Post-StandardMembers of Temple Adath Yeshurun, including Rabbi Charles Sherman (left) and 8-year-old Peri Lowenstein of DeWitt, watch as Nurit Nussbaum ( inside left) of Fayetteville and Orit Antosh of DeWitt take down yellow ribbons that marked the captivity of Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit. The ribbons were removed from a tree outside the temple in DeWitt Saturday in the wake of Schalit's release from his Palestinian captors.

This story was written by Contributing Writer Haley Behre

DeWitt, NY - The Temple Adath Yeshurun Saturday celebrated Hamas’s release of Israeli solder Gilad Shalit by removing yellow ribbons that had been placed two years ago on a tree outside the temple in Shalit’s honor.

“We put the yellow ribbons up as a symbolic gesture like for American soldiers who are M.I.A.,” said Rabbi Charles Sherman. “When you look at the yellow ribbon you ask, ‘Why it is there?’ It triggers a reaction.”

Before the ribbons were cut down outside the temple at 450 Kimber Road, temple members sang “Am Yisrael Chai,” which Sherman said means “Jewish people live.”

Shalit was released Tuesday in exchange for Israel releasing 1,027 Palestinian prisoners.

One of those Palestinians was responsible for the death of a distant relative of Sherman, the rabbi said. He, however, supported the lopsided prisoner exchange.

“Life is not black and white,” he said. “It is bittersweet.”

“We have a responsibility to our brother,” Sherman said of Shalit, who had been held prisoner since June 25, 2006.